Joseph’s Dream and Decision to Marry Mary

When Joseph discovered that his betrothed Mary was pregnant, he faced a devastating dilemma. As a righteous man faithful to the Law of Moses, he knew that pregnancy during betrothal constituted adultery, punishable by stoning (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). Yet Joseph was also merciful—Matthew 1:19 describes him as “faithful to the law, yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace.” He decided to divorce her quietly through a private certificate, protecting Mary from public shame and potential death. But before he could act, an angel appeared to him in a dream, revealing that Mary’s pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit and that the child would “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21), fulfilling Isaiah 7:14’s prophecy of virgin birth. Joseph immediately obeyed, taking Mary as his wife and protecting both her reputation and the unborn Messiah. This event demonstrates Joseph’s character—righteous yet merciful, obedient despite confusion, faithful to God’s revelation even when it defied human understanding.

Mary’s Pregnancy Discovered

The Situation (Matthew 1:18)

“Before They Came Together”:

• Matthew 1:18: “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.”
• Betrothal (erusin): Legally binding like marriage, but couple not yet living together or consummating
• Could only be broken by divorce
• Typically one-year period before wedding (nisuin)

“She Was Found to Be Pregnant”:

• Mary’s pregnancy became visible
• In first trimester? Second trimester? Text doesn’t specify
• Perhaps after her three-month visit to Elizabeth (Luke 1:56)
• Discovery: Joseph noticed, Mary told him, or others noticed?

The Scandal:

• Pregnancy during betrothal = adultery
• Deuteronomy 22:23-24: “If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her… You must stone them to death”
• Though death penalty rarely enforced in 1st century CE, social shame devastating
• Mary’s reputation ruined
• Joseph humiliated, betrayed (as he thought)
• Apparent infidelity

Joseph’s Inner Turmoil

Heartbreak:

• Loved Mary, planned to marry her
• Now appeared she had been unfaithful
• Betrayal, confusion, grief
• Dreams shattered

Legal Obligation:

• As righteous man, obligated to uphold Torah
• Cannot marry woman who committed adultery
• Must divorce her

Mercy and Love:

• Yet didn’t want Mary to suffer
• Didn’t want her stoned or publicly shamed
• Still cared for her despite apparent betrayal
• Torn between law and compassion

Joseph’s Righteous Plan (Matthew 1:19)

“Faithful to the Law, Yet…”

Matthew 1:19: “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.”

Righteous (dikaios):

• Just, upright, observant of Torah
• Would not compromise God’s law
• Could not marry adulteress
• Must divorce

Yet Merciful:

• “Did not want to expose her to public disgrace”
• Compassionate despite hurt
• Protected Mary even though (he thought) she betrayed him
• Character revealed in crisis: Justice tempered with mercy

The Quiet Divorce Plan

Private Certificate:

• Jewish law allowed private divorce with two witnesses
• Alternative to public accusation and trial
• Would spare Mary public humiliation
• Would protect her from stoning

Joseph’s Sacrifice:

• He would bear shame (people would assume he had relations with Mary before marriage, or that he was cuckolded)
• Protected Mary at cost to his own reputation
• Selfless love

Human Solution to Divine Mystery:

• Joseph didn’t know about virgin conception
• Trying to do right thing with limited information
• Balancing law and mercy as best he could
• God’s plan about to intervene

The Angel’s Revelation (Matthew 1:20-21)

The Dream

Divine Intervention:

• Matthew 1:20: “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream”
• “After he had considered”: Joseph had made decision, was about to act
• Dreams: Joseph’s communication channel with God (recurring in Matthew)
• “Angel of the Lord”: Divine messenger

The Address:

• “Joseph son of David”
• Emphasized Davidic lineage
• Messianic significance (Messiah must be son of David)
• Reminded Joseph of covenant promises

The Command:

• Matthew 1:20: “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife”
• “Do not be afraid”: Common angelic greeting, addresses Joseph’s fear
  • Fear of scandal?
  • Fear of dishonoring God by marrying adulteress?
  • Fear of unknown?
• “Take Mary home”: Complete the marriage, consummate, live together

The Explanation (Matthew 1:20)

“What Is Conceived in Her Is from the Holy Spirit”:

• Virgin conception explained
• Not adultery—divine miracle
• Holy Spirit (pneuma hagion): God’s creative power
• Echoes Genesis 1:2: Spirit hovering over creation
• New creation beginning in Mary’s womb

Vindication of Mary:

• She had not been unfaithful
• Joseph’s instinct about her character correct
• Mystery beyond human explanation

Joseph’s Call:

• Protect Mary
• Raise Messiah
• Participate in God’s salvation plan

The Prophecy (Matthew 1:21-23)

The Child’s Name and Mission:

• Matthew 1:21: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
• Jesus (Yeshua): “The Lord saves” or “Savior”
• Joseph given honor of naming child (father’s right, even though not biological father)
• “He will save his people from their sins”
  • Not political Messiah (save from Romans)
  • Spiritual Savior (save from sin)
  • Redefines messianic expectation

Fulfillment of Prophecy (Matthew 1:22-23):

• Matthew 1:22-23: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).”
• Quotes Isaiah 7:14
• Virgin (alma in Hebrew, parthenos in Greek Septuagint): Young woman/virgin
• Immanuel: “God with us”—Incarnation theme
• Jesus is God entering human history, dwelling among His people

Joseph’s Response (Matthew 1:24-25)

Immediate Obedience

Matthew 1:24: “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”

“When Joseph Woke Up”:

• Immediate action
• No delay, no doubt
• Dream convinced him completely
• Faith in divine revelation

“Did What the Angel Commanded”:

• Obedient to God despite personal cost
• Took Mary as wife despite scandal
• Protected her reputation
• Accepted role as Jesus’s guardian

“Took Mary Home”:

• Completed marriage
• Brought her into his house
• Publicly committed to her
• Bore social shame to protect her

Preserving Virginity (Matthew 1:25)

Matthew 1:25: “But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

“Did Not Consummate… Until”:

• Abstained from sexual relations during pregnancy
• Preserved Mary’s virginity until Jesus’s birth
• Honored miraculous conception
• Sacrifice and self-control

Implications:

• Virgin birth affirmed
• Joseph’s character: Self-denial, obedience, reverence
• Later Catholic tradition: Perpetual virginity (Mary remained virgin always)
  • Debated among Protestants
  • “Until” suggests normal marriage relations after Jesus’s birth

“He Gave Him the Name Jesus”:

• Joseph named the child
• Legal father’s right
• Established Jesus as Joseph’s legal son
• Jesus = legal heir to David’s throne through Joseph

Theological Significance

Joseph’s Character Revealed

Righteousness and Mercy:

• Would not compromise God’s law
• Yet showed compassion
• Model of holding justice and mercy together

Obedience Without Understanding:

• Obeyed God despite confusion
• Trusted divine revelation
• Acted on faith, not sight
• Prototype of faithful disciple

Silent Strength:

• No recorded words from Joseph in Scripture
• Actions speak: Obedient, protective, faithful
• Quiet heroism

Sacrificial Love:

• Protected Mary at cost to himself
• Bore scandal to shield her
• Raised child not biologically his
• Humble service

Divine Guidance

Dreams as Revelation:

• God spoke to Joseph through dreams (four times in Matthew)
• Like Joseph son of Jacob (Genesis 37-50)—dreamer, protector in Egypt
• Dreams: Ancient mode of divine communication

God’s Sovereignty:

• Human plans overruled by divine purpose
• Joseph’s righteous plan (divorce) replaced by God’s plan (marriage)
• God’s will accomplished despite human confusion

Virgin Birth

Miraculous Conception:

• Jesus conceived by Holy Spirit
• No human father
• Fulfills Isaiah 7:14
• Central Christian doctrine

Implications:

• Jesus sinless (no Adamic sin inherited, though Mary human)
• Jesus fully human (born of woman)
• Jesus fully divine (conceived by Holy Spirit)
• Incarnation: God becoming human

Joseph’s Role in Salvation History

Protector of the Messiah:

• Shielded Mary from scandal and death
• Protected infant Jesus from Herod (Flight to Egypt)
• Ensured Davidic lineage (legal father)
• Raised Jesus in faith, taught him trade

Legal Father:

• Jesus legally “son of David” through Joseph
• Qualified for messianic expectations
• Yet not biological father (virgin birth)

Model of Faith:

• Trusted God despite confusion
• Obeyed without hesitation
• Silent, humble service
• Righteous yet merciful

Significance

Joseph faced an impossible situation: his betrothed was pregnant, and he knew he wasn’t the father. As a righteous man, he should divorce her. As a merciful man, he wanted to protect her. His plan to divorce quietly balanced law and love. Then God intervened. The angel’s revelation—“What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit”—transformed Joseph’s understanding. Mary wasn’t unfaithful; she was chosen. The child wasn’t evidence of sin; he was the Savior.

Joseph’s immediate obedience—“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded”—demonstrates faith that acts without full understanding. He took Mary as his wife, bore the scandal, and raised the Son of God as his own. He named him Jesus, establishing legal Davidic descent and participating in God’s salvation plan.

Joseph speaks no recorded words in Scripture, yet his actions proclaim faith louder than words. He protected Mary from death and dishonor. He shielded infant Jesus from Herod. He taught Jesus the carpenter’s trade and raised him in the faith. This quiet, righteous, merciful man became guardian of the holy family and protector of the Messiah.

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21). Joseph believed, obeyed, and became the silent hero of the nativity, the man who said yes to God’s call without uttering a single word.